Jesus' Questions
Stories
Scenes of Glory
Subplots of God's Long Story
Object:
Chapter 13
Jesus' Questions
Mark 9:30-37
"You learned fast that you didn't want Jesus asking you questions," Peter said as he and his students walked through a market in Antioch. "As long as Jesus was speaking to others or just talking and not asking questions, we could smile and nod our heads like we really understood and agreed with him. We'd gotten good at it. When he started asking questions, you wanted to duck and not meet his eye."
As an apostle who'd been with Jesus and seen him after his resurrection, Peter was the center of every Christian group he visited. His Syrian students swarmed around him through the market's crowd. Peter wouldn't be in Antioch much longer, so he took every occasion to teach, continuing now to instruct them as he walked.
"Jesus would ask questions like, 'If a shepherd has 100 sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?' You figured out soon that somehow what Jesus said, as ordinary as it was on the face of it, had a hook. Almost certainly he'd get around to you and God and your attitude toward others. He'd confuse us by asking ridiculous questions like, 'Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel basket?' We'd all stand there scratching our heads. Sometimes if you waited long enough, he'd answer his own question. So, we got used to ignoring such things.
"If we didn't understand what he was talking about, it was better not to bring it up. If he thought you hadn't understood what he was getting at, he'd sting you with his reply. He was tough that way. But we knew Jesus was bound for greatness and we were willing to put up with his quirks. He'd get straightened out as he realized what he could accomplish with his popularity. We were his closest associates and we'd advise him in embarrassing situations and guide him away from danger. He'd be safe if he stuck with us."
Peter stopped and looked at his friends to see if they understood what he said. They all nodded and smiled. He continued to walk and speak, "So when Jesus mentioned for the second time that he might be killed, we'd talked about it among ourselves and were confident we knew what was best for him. We'd protect him, and when we reached Jerusalem he'd be acclaimed king and get his priorities right. His miracles would bring us all fame and power in his administration.
"It was soon after Jesus, James, John, and I experienced the presence of heaven's heroes -- Moses and Elijah right there with us on the hill, and Jesus shining like the sun, the cloud creeping over us, and God's very voice from heaven. We knew well that God had chosen him and nothing could stop him. We thought he was underrating himself, thinking he'd never succeed against the religious leaders, let alone against Rome. We were sure that with Jesus no one could stop our great cause. We assumed he felt let down after such an exalting experience on the hill. Great people often have swings of mood. He'd get over it. In the next village the needs there would snap him out of it. His compassion always lifted him to the occasion. He'd feel better after healing a few people.
"Jesus didn't quite see the potential we saw," Peter said with a deep breath. He and his students were climbing a street now. They gathered closer around him. "And that day he asked one of those questions we always wanted to dodge. We were back to our headquarters in Capernaum. We gathered in the house and he gave us all reason to avoid meeting his gaze. He said, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' Every one of us, I'm sure, immediately thought of saying, 'Nothing,' but we'd been with him long enough to know we couldn't get away with lying. He'd look us in the face and know immediately if we told the truth. So we didn't answer. Because," Peter stopped and put his hand over his eyes for a moment as he spoke, "I'm ashamed to say that on the road home we twelve had been arguing among ourselves about which of us was the best of Jesus' apprentices.
"We were in for it then. Jesus sat down, summoned us together and said, 'Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.' He motioned for us to stay where we were and he went out the door. Soon he was back carrying the neighbors' girl, maybe three years old. Jesus held her there in his arms in the middle of us, turning around so we all saw the kid. He said, 'Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.' "
Peter and his students had arrived at the villa where he was lodging. Many people awaited him inside. Peter turned to his followers before he entered. He stood silently for a moment, looking in their faces. He spoke slowly, "You all understand, don't you, that neither my being close to Jesus nor your being near to me buys you privileges?"
They said, "Yes."
"Jesus summons us," Peter said, "not to serve our own cause or to live for our own benefit, but to glorify God." Peter looked at each of their faces as they agreed. "Of course you do," he said with a sigh; and, as he entered the villa, his students jostled one another to enter with him.
Discussion Questions
1. What immediate responses do you have to the story?
2. Do you identify with a character in the story? If yes, how and why do you identify with the person? If no, why don't you identify with anyone in the story?
3. Would you like to have a conversation with a character in the story? What would you say, ask, or suggest to the person? Why?
4. How does the story bring the biblical text into a clearer focus for you?
5. How would you improve or modify the story? Why?
6. Most Christians aren't as crass as Jesus' (and Peter's) disciples in seeking or claiming religious priority over others. What are the more subtle ways that we modern disciples seek precedence over other Christians?
7. As a Christian where and when are you most tempted to compare yourself favorably against others?
8. What makes religious people want to be better than others? How can such a desire be transformed into something positive?
9. What further depths of meaning, symbols, connections with, or applications of the biblical faith do you find in the story?
10. Since Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and is alive among us through his Holy Spirit, what of this story would you like Christ to activate in your life?
Jesus' Questions
Mark 9:30-37
"You learned fast that you didn't want Jesus asking you questions," Peter said as he and his students walked through a market in Antioch. "As long as Jesus was speaking to others or just talking and not asking questions, we could smile and nod our heads like we really understood and agreed with him. We'd gotten good at it. When he started asking questions, you wanted to duck and not meet his eye."
As an apostle who'd been with Jesus and seen him after his resurrection, Peter was the center of every Christian group he visited. His Syrian students swarmed around him through the market's crowd. Peter wouldn't be in Antioch much longer, so he took every occasion to teach, continuing now to instruct them as he walked.
"Jesus would ask questions like, 'If a shepherd has 100 sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?' You figured out soon that somehow what Jesus said, as ordinary as it was on the face of it, had a hook. Almost certainly he'd get around to you and God and your attitude toward others. He'd confuse us by asking ridiculous questions like, 'Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel basket?' We'd all stand there scratching our heads. Sometimes if you waited long enough, he'd answer his own question. So, we got used to ignoring such things.
"If we didn't understand what he was talking about, it was better not to bring it up. If he thought you hadn't understood what he was getting at, he'd sting you with his reply. He was tough that way. But we knew Jesus was bound for greatness and we were willing to put up with his quirks. He'd get straightened out as he realized what he could accomplish with his popularity. We were his closest associates and we'd advise him in embarrassing situations and guide him away from danger. He'd be safe if he stuck with us."
Peter stopped and looked at his friends to see if they understood what he said. They all nodded and smiled. He continued to walk and speak, "So when Jesus mentioned for the second time that he might be killed, we'd talked about it among ourselves and were confident we knew what was best for him. We'd protect him, and when we reached Jerusalem he'd be acclaimed king and get his priorities right. His miracles would bring us all fame and power in his administration.
"It was soon after Jesus, James, John, and I experienced the presence of heaven's heroes -- Moses and Elijah right there with us on the hill, and Jesus shining like the sun, the cloud creeping over us, and God's very voice from heaven. We knew well that God had chosen him and nothing could stop him. We thought he was underrating himself, thinking he'd never succeed against the religious leaders, let alone against Rome. We were sure that with Jesus no one could stop our great cause. We assumed he felt let down after such an exalting experience on the hill. Great people often have swings of mood. He'd get over it. In the next village the needs there would snap him out of it. His compassion always lifted him to the occasion. He'd feel better after healing a few people.
"Jesus didn't quite see the potential we saw," Peter said with a deep breath. He and his students were climbing a street now. They gathered closer around him. "And that day he asked one of those questions we always wanted to dodge. We were back to our headquarters in Capernaum. We gathered in the house and he gave us all reason to avoid meeting his gaze. He said, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' Every one of us, I'm sure, immediately thought of saying, 'Nothing,' but we'd been with him long enough to know we couldn't get away with lying. He'd look us in the face and know immediately if we told the truth. So we didn't answer. Because," Peter stopped and put his hand over his eyes for a moment as he spoke, "I'm ashamed to say that on the road home we twelve had been arguing among ourselves about which of us was the best of Jesus' apprentices.
"We were in for it then. Jesus sat down, summoned us together and said, 'Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.' He motioned for us to stay where we were and he went out the door. Soon he was back carrying the neighbors' girl, maybe three years old. Jesus held her there in his arms in the middle of us, turning around so we all saw the kid. He said, 'Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.' "
Peter and his students had arrived at the villa where he was lodging. Many people awaited him inside. Peter turned to his followers before he entered. He stood silently for a moment, looking in their faces. He spoke slowly, "You all understand, don't you, that neither my being close to Jesus nor your being near to me buys you privileges?"
They said, "Yes."
"Jesus summons us," Peter said, "not to serve our own cause or to live for our own benefit, but to glorify God." Peter looked at each of their faces as they agreed. "Of course you do," he said with a sigh; and, as he entered the villa, his students jostled one another to enter with him.
Discussion Questions
1. What immediate responses do you have to the story?
2. Do you identify with a character in the story? If yes, how and why do you identify with the person? If no, why don't you identify with anyone in the story?
3. Would you like to have a conversation with a character in the story? What would you say, ask, or suggest to the person? Why?
4. How does the story bring the biblical text into a clearer focus for you?
5. How would you improve or modify the story? Why?
6. Most Christians aren't as crass as Jesus' (and Peter's) disciples in seeking or claiming religious priority over others. What are the more subtle ways that we modern disciples seek precedence over other Christians?
7. As a Christian where and when are you most tempted to compare yourself favorably against others?
8. What makes religious people want to be better than others? How can such a desire be transformed into something positive?
9. What further depths of meaning, symbols, connections with, or applications of the biblical faith do you find in the story?
10. Since Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and is alive among us through his Holy Spirit, what of this story would you like Christ to activate in your life?
